Simeone seeks 'culprits' for Atlético's poor start to the season

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Atletico Madrid Man Utd

13/10/26 21:00:00

2.38 3.75 2.63

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Diego Pablo Simeone features in the latest news of Atlético de Madrid as he is determined to improve the defense after a poor start to the season: the team has conceded eight goals in five official matches. The 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League confirmed a problem that had already emerged in LaLiga, forcing the coach to readjust his structure.

This contrasts with one of Simeone's main hallmarks. During one of the best first halves in Spain, Atlético only conceded eight goals in 19 matches, the same number they have now after five games.

The expressions on Simeone's face say it all…⚽️🔥

❌Atlético de Madrid lost 3-0 to Athletic Club. pic.twitter.com/rS6Tx0JTbN

— Conexión Deportiva (@CDeportivaES) September 5, 2026

Diego Pablo Simeone changes the system but keeps conceding goals

Simeone has experimented with different strategies but is yet to find stability. Against Liverpool, he altered the defensive setup by including Cuti Romero alongside Marc Pubill and David Hancko, while Marcos Llorente and Giuliano Simeone took on wider roles.

However, the tactical change did not prevent another loss. Atlético took the lead at Anfield through Marcos Llorente, but Dominik Szoboszlai equalized before halftime, and Alexis Mac Allister completed the comeback for a final score of 2-1.

This trend had already shown in LaLiga. The team suffered a 3-0 defeat against Athletic Club and entered the European competition after struggling to maintain leads and protect their area in the initial league fixtures.

Simeone himself acknowledges the team's need to correct defensive aspects. He attributes this to a squad still adapting, with many summer signings and players having limited preparation due to international commitments.

Grimaldo losing ground at Atlético de Madrid

One of the early changes affects Alejandro Grimaldo. The full-back started in the early LaLiga matches but his difficulties against Athletic led to him being benched for the Champions League game at Anfield.

Simeone opted for Hancko on the left side against Liverpool. Grimaldo did come on in the second half, but the initial decision by the coach indicates that this position remains open within the defensive structure. The team's shaky start to the season is jeopardizing Simeone's position.

Several names on the table

The situation does not revolve around a single player. Atlético brought in players like Cuti Romero, Grimaldo, and Morten Hjulmand this summer, part of a renovation that left a squad of 24 players with new pieces still integrating into the coach's strategies.

The schedule has added complexity to the process. The team faces several successive away matches due to the Metropolitano's schedule and has already visited places like San Mamés and Anfield, with more tough fixtures ahead.

Diego Pablo Simeone's next test will be in LaLiga, where he must decide whether to stick with three center-backs or revert to a back four. With eight goals conceded in five matches, Atlético's immediate goal will be to halt a trend that marks the worst defensive start of the Argentine's time in Spain.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Simeone busca "culpables" del mal inicio de temporada del Atlético